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What Should Your Career Path Be? FireLink has reviewed hundreds of job forecasts detailed in the US government’s 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook to bring you a list of what labor experts believe to be the fastest growing fire and rescue careers of the next decade. Whether you are working to get into first response or want to make sure you ...

Stock Photo It is well known that firefighters expose themselves to many hazards, including toxic fumes, unstable structures and, of course, fired and extreme heat. They do this not for the glory, but for their desire to protect property and the people in their communities from fire. To minimize risks to health and safety, firefighters carry protective gear and wear specialized, ...

This week I received a fun email from a former Marine who likes to push himself still and those around him. He writes: Stew, I have been using your workouts to get my pushups up to 100 in 2 minutes (as a Marine we focused on pullups as you know) and got it last week. Now I an thinking of doing ...

The truth of the matter is that most people sabotage their own interviews. Instead of putting their best foot forward, they put off the interviewer by acting cocky, unsure of their talent, having bad manners, or by simply acting abnormal. FireLink has interviewed several recruitment experts to bring you unbelievable true stories of what actually happens behind interview doors. If ...

1. Why do you want to work in this industry? Bad answer: "I like firefighting. I think it's really cool." Don't just say you like it. Anyone can "like" firefighting. Focus instead on your history with the industry, and if you can, tell a story. Good answer: "I have always appreciated and admired those who put their lives on the line ...

Congratulations on getting on a volunteer department! Hopefully, by reading through this guide you have gained some helpful knowledge to help you not only become a volunteer firefighter, but to help you along your career as well. Now that you are a part of the department, it’s time to really show what you’ve got. Keep demonstrating that you are interested in ...

It doesn’t matter if you are a rookie on probationary status, or you are a tenured member of the team, always ask questions! Common knowledge states that there is no such thing as a stupid question. If you don’t know something, ask a person who does. By asking questions you may not only help yourself, but other members and officers as ...

It is important to bring productive personal skills to the table when you become a volunteer firefighter. I know at my department, we have volunteers with backgrounds in electrical work, mechanics, plumbing and farming (yes, farming). Volunteer departments will sometimes work on their own vehicles and equipment if the work is something that can be done at the station. This helps ...

Being a volunteer is a great way to start out in the industry, but there are also other factors you may have to consider. Most volunteer firefighters have full-time jobs and families. Learning how to prioritize your schedule will be one of the most useful skills during your time volunteering. Thankfully, a lot of departments across the country have set meeting ...

The Fire and Rescue industry is and can be very demanding, both physically and mentally. When most of us hear the word “physical,” we automatically think of ripped abs and tones arms. This is not the context that we use this word. The phrase “good physical condition” simply implies that you can handle strenuous activity for a certain period of time. ...

This is an industry that can demand a lot from you. Not sometimes, but most of the time. Being aware of your limitations is a humbling skill that all firefighters should have. Letting your officers know of any hesitations helps not only yourself, but your department as well. Knowing when to say, “I can’t” makes you more of a person for ...

At this point you have researched the industry, spoken with a few departments, and narrowed down your career path interests. Now you have to mentally prepare yourself for the job ahead. We all know that life is not mimicked by what you see on television and in the movies. There are very real dangers and horrors that one in fire and ...

So you want to start a new career in the Fire and Rescue industry, but you don’t know where to begin? How do you choose between becoming a firefighter, E.M.T., paramedic, first responder or a HazMat technician? The roles of a firefighter have changed a lot over the years, and a firefighter’s job is not just to respond to a call ...

In this industry you have to have the will and the desire to get the job done, whatever that job may be. You may have to spend hours training with your department in new firefighting techniques and styles. You may have to fight for one more ounce of strength as you battle endless, angry flames during a call. You may have ...

So you want to start a new career in the Fire and Rescue industry, but you don’t know where to begin? The first step in becoming a volunteer firefighter is to research the industry. For several hundred years volunteer firefighters have protected their communities. Because they rely heavily on donations and neighborhood involvement, a good chunk of a volunteer firefighter’s time ...

With the long days of summer, there are more daylight hours in which to exercise. Many people focus on running and outdoor activities. These days, though, it may be best to stay indoors and do another type of workout instead of breathing polluted air during strenuous cardio activity. In an email this week, I was asked about running during the summer, ...

Rappelling 50 to 200 feet from a helicopter into remote, rugged country near a roaring wildfire might sound like part of the plot for a Sylvester Stallone action flick. But it’s all in a day’s work now for the Santa Fe National Forest helitack crew. Helitack stands for "helicopter-delivered fire resources,"and is the system of managing and utilizing choppers and their ...

On day number one we all have it beat into our heads that the primary killer of firefighters is heart attacks. But as probies, we feel that we're invincible, at least for a while. After all, we're young and tough, years away from having to worry about our health…. Or are we? As young firefighters, our hearts may not be at ...

If you're in the fire service, you're going to be yelled at from time to time. I don't care how tough and talented you are, I don't care if you were the student body president or you dated the homecoming queen. The simple truth is that you will be screamed at. I admit that I haven‚t met you, but I know ...

Firefighters are more than simple friends. Friends go out for pizza on Friday nights. Friends come over to watch the game on your television. “Friends” also have a tendency of disappearing when times get tough. You can't fight fires with friends. To fight fires you need the brotherhood. Last week I asked my biological brother, a firefighter on the department I'm ...